RCA staff receive team and individual awards at 2025 NDSU Staff Recognition Awards
April 24, 2025
On Thursday, staff from the North Dakota State University Office of Research and Creative Activity received honors at the NDSU Staff Recognition Awards. NDSU’s Economic Diversification Research Fund (EDRF) team was awarded the Team Recognition Award and RCA building operations coordinator Angela Evans received a Staff Individual Recognition Award.
The NDSU Team Award goes to groups that improve their office and department efficiency, develop new work strategies to reduce waste and save time and money, help others beyond the general job requirements, and consistently provide outstanding customer service.
The EDRF program, funded by the 2023 ND Legislature, aimed to drive economic growth through innovation by generating new technologies, ideas, and products. Key goals included promoting job creation, career development, and wage increases; improving healthcare outcomes; addressing economic decline in fossil fuel-dependent communities; and expanding student experiential learning opportunities.
The EDRF team was tasked with a critical challenge: designing a new series of research programs at NDSU that would meet these goals and benefit citizens across North Dakota. In just a few months, 42 projects were launched across the five program areas, backed by a total budget of $2.5 million over two years. Given the early success, the team sought additional funding from the North Dakota legislature in 2025 for a second Economic Diversification Research Fund (EDRF) round.
In the nomination, the team stood out for its commitment to service and communication. After launching the programs, they engaged stakeholders through workshops and one-on-one sessions, helping applicants navigate the proposal process and supporting funded projects throughout their lifecycle.
RCA team members recognized for the NDSU Team Recognition Award are Sheri Anderson, Cassie Johnson, Kirstin Saulsbury, Heidi Grunwald, Scott Payne, Cindy Graffeo, Zane Gernhart, Val Kettner, and Amy Kain.
The NDSU Staff Individual Recognition Award recognizes individuals who produce high-quality work, improve efficiency for their department, and help others beyond the job requirements
According to her nomination, Evans can be counted on to turn around tasks efficiently and with a positive attitude. Her organizational skills and drive ensure things run smoothly at the RCA facilities. The nomination states Angie is a “hard worker, willing to learn new tasks and help everyone with a question. Her attitude and sense of humor are positive aspects she brings to her job daily. Evans puts forth great effort to support the RCA mission at NDSU, and all who conduct research at NDSU feel her impact across campus."
The following RCA staff members were recognized at the event for years of service: Scott Payne (30 years of service), Cassie Johnson (15 years), and Christy Gallagher-Lein (15 years).
“Thanks to all the RCA team who were recognized today for your dedication, commitment, customer service, and positive energy you bring to NDSU,” said NDSU vice president for research Colleen Fitzgerald.